The new Broadway musical, Bright Star, created by comedian/actor Steve Martin and musician Edie Brickell, recently offered us tickets to the show in exchange for an honest review. And honestly, we could not have had a more memorable experience.
Our Bright Star review is simply five reasons why you will also enjoy it:
1. The Truly Amazing Carmen Cusack
Cusack, a Broadway newcomer, portrays the character of Alice, an acclaimed editor of the fictional Asheville Southern Journal. She owns every scene in which she appears. She is truly a revelation with a voice rich in beauty and passion. If you see her in Bright Star, you will witness the birth of the next Broadway star.
2. Addictive Music
Bright Star’s music, co-written by Martin (who has made a new career for himself in recent years as an acclaimed banjo player and bluegrass musician) and the one-time pop star Brickell, is delightful and engaging. It was really hard not to tap my feet to the infectious bluegrass melodies from the talented band conducted by Rob Berman. I was humming and singing Bright Star songs for days after seeing the show.
3. The Dual Storyline
I’d prefer not to share too much about the plot, but one of the pleasant surprises of this musical is its setting in the 1920s and 1940s. It leads to some powerful and heart-wrenching scenes that showcase a stellar all-around cast.
4. Sense of Humor
Although there are some tear-inducing moments in Bright Star, the show has a truly wonderful sense of humor. Having Martin as one of the creative forces behind the show’s book and story is certainly a reason why.
5. Originality
Martin and Brickell crafted a truly original, yet quintessential Broadway musical. Although that might sound like a contradiction, it’s not. The musical itself tells an original and compelling story, yet, it harkens back to some classic Broadway shows of the past.
Edie Brickell on creating Bright Star
After seeing the show, I was left with some questions. Grammy winner and co-creator of Bright Star, Edie Brickell, was kind enough to answer those questions.
NYC Dads Group: Congratulations! Bright Star is truly a breathtaking work of art. The music and the spirit are so joyful. What interested you most about creating a story through the form of a musical?
Edie Brickell: I love The Sound of Music so much and wanted to try to make a musical where you could easily sing every song. I wanted them to be fun to sing along to with hooky phrasing and sweet melodies. Luckily, Steve wanted to make the same style musical so we gave it our best shot.
How did you decide on the time period and setting of the show?
EB: We like the style of the ’40s so much and since we knew we had a strange situation involving a train, we wanted towns in close proximity where tracks ran near to Asheville, N.C. — the town mentioned in a song on our first record that influenced our setting.
You’ve collaborated with Steve Martin before. What has this collaboration process with him been like?
EB: We have an easy rapport. He is fun-loving and good humored, just as I hoped he’d be!
Our Bright Star review intrigue you? Get discount tickets now
If you are interested in Bright Star, we have a great opportunity for you. You can purchase tickets for as low as $39 for performances through June 12 via the Bright Star website using the discount code: BSBLOG303.
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